Defining a highly conserved B cell epitope in the receptor binding motif of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein.

SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines induce robust and persistent germinal centre (GC) B cell responses in humans. It remains unclear how the continuous evolution of the virus impacts the breadth of the induced GC B cell response. Using ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration, we examined draining lymph nodes of nine healthy adults following bivalent booster immunization.

Percutaneous image-guided mesenteric biopsy: how we do it in a high-volume training center.

Lesions in the mesentery are unique from other potential biopsy targets in the abdomen or pelvis for several reasons. Mesenteric lesions are among the deepest in the abdomen and are often surrounded by or adjacent to small bowel or colon. Mesenteric vasculature is often crowded, and traversing the mesentery often involves crossing multiple vascular planes.

mRNA-based influenza vaccine expands breadth of B cell response in humans.

Eliciting broad and durable antibody responses against rapidly evolving pathogens like influenza viruses remains a formidable challenge. The germinal center (GC) reaction enables the immune system to generate broad, high-affinity, and durable antibody responses to vaccination. mRNA-based severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines induce persistent GC B cell responses in humans.

CD4 T cells exhibit distinct transcriptional phenotypes in the lymph nodes and blood following mRNA vaccination in humans.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and mRNA vaccination induce robust CD4 T cell responses. Using single-cell transcriptomics, here, we evaluated CD4 T cells specific for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in the blood and draining lymph nodes (dLNs) of individuals 3 months and 6 months after vaccination with the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. We analyzed 1,277 spike-specific CD4 T cells, including 238 defined using Trex, a deep learning-based reverse epitope mapping method to predict antigen specificity.